International Francophonie Day 2026: Affirming commitment to a green and sustainable future
WVR - On the evening of March 20, at the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam historical site, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Regional Office of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), organized the celebration of International Francophonie Day 2026 with the theme "For a Green Future" (Vert demain).
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Attending the event from Vietnam were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang; Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Subcommittee at the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly, and Chairwoman of the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association.
International guests included Mr. Pierre Du Ville, Head of the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation, Chairman of the Group of Francophone Embassies, Delegations, and Organizations in Hanoi (GADIF), representatives from the Asia-Pacific Regional Office of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF); along with representatives from French-speaking embassies and Francophone organizations in Vietnam.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang speaking at the ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
In his speech, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang emphasized that International Francophonie Day is a gathering of over 396 million French speakers worldwide – sharing a common linguistic, cultural, and value space.
The Deputy Minister affirmed that for Vietnam, Francophonie is not only a historical heritage but also a dynamic cooperation channel, contributing to Vietnam's deep international integration. In a world of many changes, Francophonie values such as dialogue, solidarity, respect for diversity, and cooperation for sustainable development become even more valuable and meaningful.
The Deputy Minister asserted that Vietnam always values cooperation with the Francophone Community and is committed to continuing to play an active and responsible role in the community to effectively achieve the common goals.
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| The International Francophonie Day 2026 solemnly took place with the theme "For a Green Future". (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Additionally, Vietnam will closely collaborate with member countries to contribute practically to the success of the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled for November 2026 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
"With a spirit of solidarity and respect for diversity, we firmly believe that the Francophone Community will continue to thrive, contributing positively to global peace, stability, and development. French will forever be a bridge connecting cultures, peoples, and generations in the effort to create a sustainable future," the Deputy Minister emphasized.
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| Mr. Kaloyan Kolev, representative of the Asia-Pacific Regional Office of OIF, emphasized that International Francophonie Day 2026 highlights the role of youth in addressing global challenges and creating a peaceful, inclusive society. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
On behalf of the OIF regional office, Mr. Kaloyan Kolev emphasized that International Francophonie Day 2026 highlights the role of youth in addressing global challenges and creating a peaceful, inclusive society.
With the theme "For a Green Future", OIF celebrates initiatives, commitments, and groundbreaking solutions from young people, thereby promoting dialogue, enhancing social cohesion, and affirming youth as a core force in building a stable, sustainable world.
According to Mr. Kaloyan Kolev, OIF has continuously transformed into a flexible and effective international organization, focusing on serving the practical interests of people, especially women and youth.
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| The song "La vie en rose" by artist Edith Piaf – one of the classics of French music was performed at the ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
"With a spirit of decentralization and strengthening external networks to be closer to reality, OIF has improved its management methods and established a more transparent and exemplary governance model, helping to enhance its influence and appeal on the international stage. The fact that new countries apply to join the Francophone community each year is evidence of this," Mr. Kaloyan Kolev stated.
Also at the event, Mr. Pierre du Ville, Head of the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation, Chairman of the GADIF Group, presented this year's commemorative medal to Mr. Do Duc Thanh, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Romania and French language lecturer at the Diplomatic Academy, for his tireless contributions to serving the country and spreading the knowledge and values of the Francophone Community.
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| Mr. Nguyen Hong Phuc, specialist at the Directorate State Protocol and Interpretation (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), being interviewed by the World and Vietnam Newspaper. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
In an interview with The World and Vietnam Report, Mr. Nguyen Hong Phuc, a specialist at the Directorate State Protocol and Interpretation (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), noted that Vietnamese and French cultures have certain intersections, creating invisible but strong bridges. According to him, French is not only a working language but also a means for the younger generation to access logical thinking, subtlety in communication, and the depth of human civilization.
International Francophonie Day 2026 at Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam is not only an occasion to honor a language but also a vivid testament to the strong friendship between Vietnam and the community of French-speaking countries.
In the sacred space of the heritage site, the message of "For a Green Future" was strongly spread, awakening the sense of responsibility and aspiration to contribute among the younger generation.
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| To showcase the unique culture of the H'Mong people, students from Doan Thi Diem Primary School – one of Hanoi's leading institutions for bilingual French education – prepared a dance performance "Huong sac ban Meo". (Photo: Thanh Long) |
| International Francophonie Day on March 20 has been officially celebrated since 1980 to honour Francophonie and cultural diversity and to promote international cooperation among members. Currently, there are nearly 400 million French speakers worldwide, with nearly 1 million in Vietnam. |
